While this may never be possible now that the Undertaker has retired, these are some of my biggest fantasy matches in which if i were a booker - i would plan them immediately. It's unfortunate that WWE could not plan these official matches. I thought some of the Undertaker's matches were unnecessary like a second Kane match or a second Triple H. If the Undertaker still had his undefeated streak, this is how i would've written his legendary match cards.
The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle - If i were a storyline writer, i'd have Kurt Angle taunt the Undertaker, flaunt his win at No Way Out, put him through the ankle lock again, then finally take his Athleticism to the next level - end the Undertaker's undefeated streak. Both are very competitive fighters as Kurt Angle has experience in legit amateur wrestling while the Undertaker is experienced in MMA. Both have devastating submission holds but which one would dominate the ring - the Ankle Lock or Hell's Gate?
The Undertaker vs. John Cena - Both have legendary careers. John Cena has had more titles than the Undertaker and equally devastating moves. John Cena has enormous strength and great story-telling abilities. He's been in several main events like the Undertaker has. They only wrestled a couple of times ending usually in a no-contest. I would've written an ambitious rivalry between the two for a shot for a WWE title at Wrestlemania. Perhaps making an "I quit" match would be more suitable.
The Undertaker vs. Stone Cold - This would've made a huge main event during the Attitude Era since Stone Cold and Vince McMahon were feuding at the time. If Vince unfairly booked Stone Cold to face the Undertaker in a streak vs. career match, it would've gained so much potential. Both are brutal in their approaches to wrestling in the ring. Stone Cold is a brutal legendary brawler when it comes to a detested opponent. He would be the ideal candidate for the Undertaker seeing how their championship matches went.
The Undertaker vs. Goldberg - From the matches i've seen from Goldberg, he's a devastating wrestler in the ring. His finisher is ridiculously painful from the looks of it. Goldberg is a dominant athlete and an aggressor. Goldberg is very strategic in his approach like the Undertaker.
The Undertaker vs. Sting - Rather than feud with the Authority, i'd have Sting feud with the Undertaker for a match at Wrestlemania. To make things more interesting, i'd book it at Hell in a Cell match. Both are similar in stature, signature moves, submission holds, appearance, and legacies. After all, both men probably wanted to have a match together before Wrestlemania 32.
I'll reiterate, t's a shame that these matches never occurred for whatever reason. Nevertheless it's nice to dream about what could've been differently.
What makes a pro-wrestler a legend? Many fans use the term "legends" all too often to describe their favorite pro-wrestlers but there's not many who meet beyond the standards of a wrestling legend. Modern pro-wrestlers like Roman Reigns unfortunately don't equate to the legends of the past.
Pro-wrestling legends are unlike any another pro-wrestler in the known world of pro-wrestling. They are absolutely amazing. Pro-wrestling legends have these must-have traits:
* Passion and character - Pro-wrestling legends have unbelievable passion for the pro-wrestling business and it shows. They have highly built athletic bodies, wrestling styles, charisma, drive, the list goes on. Most of all, they have believable characters. Creating an unforgettable character begins by unleashing the deepest sides of yourself in the ring. Legends also make the promotion they work for their home. They give their best in everything that they do both in the ring and locker room.
* Solid promos - Outstanding promos consist of a beginning (a strong hook), a middle (build up to an event), and end (concluding remarks). Highly successful pro-wrestlers cut memorable promos. They don't just scream "i'm gonna win!" They all have their own emotional appeal, gimmicks, characters, catch phrases, and so forth. Take Raven for example, he almost always shares a deep philosophical insight on life during his promos. He starts by stating an interesting thought then sometimes goes into comparing his opponent to himself before listing the qualities that make him superior. Promos are delivered effectively with intensity and assertiveness. They're never rushed, but perfectly put together.
* Creative in-ring performance - Just because pro-wrestling is scripted, doesn't mean there's no creativity or athleticism involved. Pro-wrestling legends blend the two together, creating unforgettable matches. Kurt Angle is very athletic in the ring executing intense signature amateur wrestling moves at a fast pace. Why do you think pro-wrestlers like Sting and the Undertaker are entertaining? Because they have various types of moves: Power moves, high flying moves, submission holds, etc. However they don't just wrestle, but entertain the audience by doing something unique to their character and building anticipation in the crowd. For instance, John Cena likes to do his "you can't see me!" hand gesture before executing a finisher. Most of all, pro-wrestling legends sell (make pro-wrestling look realistic) like no tomorrow. One example is when the Undertaker limped on one leg after Kurt Angle put it in an ankle lock.
* Storytelling - You can have outstanding signature moves, but you will bore people if you do not tell stories. Storytelling is when a pro-wrestler builds drama during a match. How do you tell a story? Using your body. The Undertaker, arguably one of the greatest storytellers in pro-wrestling, is the finest example of how story-telling is done. He sometimes begins by having a staredown with someone he's been feuding with like his brother Kane. He then begins by fiercely attacking a pro-wrestler he's been feuding with more than the average opponent. When he gets locked into a chokehold, he sells and leaves you asking "how is he going to get out of that hold?" He also builds anticipation and plot twists by sitting up after a devastating finisher. Great stories happen when there is something at stake such as the Undertaker's streak at Wrestlemania. Just watch the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25. What made the match so great? Storytelling. It was the way Shawn Michaels put everything in his being to defeat the Undertaker and how the Undertaker gave everything to defend his streak.
* Strong fanbases - Stone Cold, Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan, and Sting are all examples of pro-wrestlers who built a strong interaction with their fans. Building a strong relationship with fans starts by creating slogans, hand gestures, catch phrases, or naming fans. For example, Jeff Hardy often refers to his fans as "creatures" and vouches for them in the face of adversity. Gimmicks can also inspire people to dress up as their favorite pro-wrestler, giving him or her further exposure. Legends (heel or face) almost always make their fans apart of the action.
* Revolutionary accomplishments - Every pro-wrestler has contributed in some way or form to the success of a particular set of moves or company. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, the Undertaker, and others have popularized the WWF/WWE with their entertainment reaching beyond the ring. They've dominated the entire promotion and that's what led them to revolutionize pro-wrestling. Only legends can leave long lasting impact on the pro-wrestling business.
If pro-wrestlers today would be inspired by all-time wrestling legends and learn what made them so successful, pro-wrestling talents would be more than athletes. Pro-wrestling legends go far beyond the norm and that's why they'll forever be engraved in the hall of fame.
I hear alot of WWE fans say that John Cena is overrated, choking out new talent using corny gimmicks for children and that's more than enough reason to hate him. While this is true for him in modern WWE, it was not always so.
John Cena was a jobber in his early career once upon a time. He didn't intend on being famous. He only wrestled to push other wrestlers. It was only when the fans took an interest in him that WWE made the decision to push him. Because of this, John Cena was born and he won match after match, title after title, etc. Originally, he was geared to older audiences when he adopted the vulgar rap battle and later the soldier gimmick.
Now does he deserve all of the fame and championships? Yes. John Cena is main event material because he's a great entertainer in the ring and on the mic. He has an array of simple but powerfully devastating moves such as the FU and the submission STFU. He knows how to build up fierce emotional anticipation especially when he wrestled with the Undertaker in 2006. He was agile, aggressive, and about the same level of competition as the Undertaker. He knows how to build momentum when wrestling. He's also humorous in his promos. What the Undertaker and John Cena have in common is that both have faced popular superstars which contributed to the success of their careers.
His golden age began in the ruthless aggression era as he was somewhat equally balanced compared to other popular superstars. Do i believe he's hugely overrated now? Yes. The arrival of the PG era has pushed him unnecessarily and made him appeal to family friendly audiences. WWE simply pushed him to the point where he became the backbone. I would not blame John Cena, i would blame the PG era and WWE's putting him on the spotlight far too often.
When the Great Khali entered Smackdown in 2006, i was scared. His height and intimidating yet mysterious presence was known as he devastated the Undertaker. His roar was monstrous and his eyes inhuman. His physical appearance and size were jaw-dropping. I've seen him completely pulverize wrestlers in the ring almost to death. It is even reported that he accidentally killed a pro-wrestling doing a flapjack slam. There was a period when the Great Khali was unstoppable against WWE's best: Kurt Angle, Batista, Rey Mysterio, and others. He was at the top of the food chain, being the most dominant out there. When the Great Khali stepped in WWE, all hell broke loose. During that time, the Great Khali ruled in tyranny and everyone secretly knew it. He didn't need a title, all he needed was fear.
Many people believe that a large buff guy is a brainless moron with no fighting techniques at all. While this might be true, they're still fearsome. The Great Khali was born a giant. His enormous size is never to be underestimated. In the old tale of David and Goliath, David in his humility and quickness defeats the giant Goliath. However in the WWE, no one trains to be a David. Many wrestlers train to be a giant and when faced with a bigger giant, they aren't prepared. They lack the superior strength and speed. I've seen smaller wrestlers who are smart and more agile than the Great Khali but end up losing regardless. This is because they're stuck with such a fragile and small body that can do little damage to the monstrous size of the Great Khali.
Take for example his vice grip submission. How do you think Batista would break out of that hold? Hitting him? Trying to pull his arms away? Getting to the ropes? How do you fight a man who's 7 feet tall and weighs 347 pounds being a body builder Batista's size? Once Khali gets a hold, you'll be passing out in minutes and have a limited amount of time before you go to sleep. Once you get in this hold, i see very little counters.
People don't call him "the Great Khali" for nothing. He doesn't need speed or agility because his legs are in themselves dangerous. Often, Khali would kick a pro-wrestler in the face and the moment his foot made contact, the ropes on the ring almost break from the explosive impact of the pro-wrestler's back hitting the floor. It gets worse when he executes the Punjabi plunge. He lifts his opponents up with both hands then slams them as you hear the loudness of the impact. The slams are so devastating that Khali's opponents do not recover from them after one or two times. It's as if they fell from a tall building as they crash into the concrete.
Another one of his fatal moves is the Khali chop. This move is so violent and powerful, it can knock out an opponent if landed to the head. It looks downright painful when delivered straight to the chest.
Of course if your fast enough, you can escape some attacks like Rey Mysterio did. However what's a kick or a punch going to do? He's too tall and too strong to be ground so easily. Had this been a real life situation, you might have a better chance at fighting him. Unfortunately, pro-wrestlers options are limited to sport rules. He can take so many blows from someone like Triple H and even if Khali is knocked off balance, there's no guarantee he will stay there very long. You can only take a few and once you do, your finished.
Because of these moves and the creative ingenious of the old writers of WWE, they've made a monstrous wrestler that is powerful - maybe too powerful. In his earliest time on Smackdown, he's been demolishing our childhood heroes along with our hopes. The crowd must've been struck with fear as he steps over a fallen opponent for a pin. He was on a rampage and i can imagine the writers despite their creative ingenious talent, regretting ever making the monster.
WWE probably struggled to find a middle ground where Khali would not be too powerful or too weak with no success. As WWE fell into the more PG-rated setting, they slowly changed the Great Khali into a soft, family friendly, entertainer. He was reduced to no more than a punching bag for WWE legends such as John Cena. When the WWE gave him this role, the Great Khali stopped being great.
I cannot blame them nonetheless. I feel that the Great Khali might have been too powerful of a heel to keep within any roster. It would take too much work to equalize him with the other pro-wrestlers. Even if this were to happen, it would strip him away of who the Great Khali is. While many people use the word "great" too often, the Great Khali is probably the only person who lives up to his fearsome and ferocious name.
While this may never be possible now that the Undertaker has retired, these are some of my biggest fantasy matches in which if i were a booker - i would plan them immediately. It's unfortunate that WWE could not plan these official matches. I thought some of the Undertaker's matches were unnecessary like a second Kane match or a second Triple H. If the Undertaker still had his undefeated streak, this is how i would've written his legendary match cards.
The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle - If i were a storyline writer, i'd have Kurt Angle taunt the Undertaker, flaunt his win at No Way Out, put him through the ankle lock again, then finally take his Athleticism to the next level - end the Undertaker's undefeated streak. Both are very competitive fighters as Kurt Angle has experience in legit amateur wrestling while the Undertaker is experienced in MMA. Both have devastating submission holds but which one would dominate the ring - the Ankle Lock or Hell's Gate?
The Undertaker vs. John Cena - Both have legendary careers. John Cena has had more titles than the Undertaker and equally devastating moves. John Cena has enormous strength and great story-telling abilities. He's been in several main events like the Undertaker has. They only wrestled a couple of times ending usually in a no-contest. I would've written an ambitious rivalry between the two for a shot for a WWE title at Wrestlemania. Perhaps making an "I quit" match would be more suitable.
The Undertaker vs. Stone Cold - This would've made a huge main event during the Attitude Era since Stone Cold and Vince McMahon were feuding at the time. If Vince unfairly booked Stone Cold to face the Undertaker in a streak vs. career match, it would've gained so much potential. Both are brutal in their approaches to wrestling in the ring. Stone Cold is a brutal legendary brawler when it comes to a detested opponent. He would be the ideal candidate for the Undertaker seeing how their championship matches went.
The Undertaker vs. Goldberg - From the matches i've seen from Goldberg, he's a devastating wrestler in the ring. His finisher is ridiculously painful from the looks of it. Goldberg is a dominant athlete and an aggressor. Goldberg is very strategic in his approach like the Undertaker.
The Undertaker vs. Sting - Rather than feud with the Authority, i'd have Sting feud with the Undertaker for a match at Wrestlemania. To make things more interesting, i'd book it at Hell in a Cell match. Both are similar in stature, signature moves, submission holds, appearance, and legacies. After all, both men probably wanted to have a match together before Wrestlemania 32.
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